Guyon Espiner appears to know something, if his angle in the interview with Vikram this morning is anything to go by. The "Does this person have any interest in Māori issues?" questions would never get asked otherwise (although I'd like to see that question become commonplace.)

I wouldn't be surprised if Mana went with an economically literate class warrior over someone with cultural bona fides. If they can persuade poor pakeha that they're in the same boat as most Maori then they have the beginnings of a strong, inclusive political force.

The "Does this person have any interest in Māori issues?" questions would never get asked otherwise (although I'd like to see that question become commonplace.)

Not so sure about that interpretation, Andre. I took it to be more of in the vein of "what on earth do the IP and MANA have in common?" - the assumption being that the IP leader will be some Pakeha tech-head who has no track record of interest in te tino rangatiratanga or the like.

Of course, Espiner may be wrong in his assumption, but I wouldn't assume his line of questioning revealed any inside info. If he had a name, he'd have asked outright.

Why would Labour fight so hard to take Te Tai Tokerau off Harawira? Isn't that kinda dumb. Leave it to Hone and at least Labour will have possibly 3 maybe more Internet/Mana PMs for a coalition deal. Same deal the Nats did with Epsom and ACT.

Even more so: why would they fight hard in Waiariki to give the seat to Flavell? That so makes no sense. (I reckon Sykes does have a good shot there- well-organised, a very strong candidate, and strong on-the-ground. But a deal with Labour ought to seal it, and I just don't get why it seems to be off the cards.)

Why would Labour fight so hard to take Te Tai Tokerau off Harawira? Isn't that kinda dumb.

No - First, and I don't mean this to sound as bitchy as it probably does, a good chunk of Labour would like their Maori seats back. Thank you very much. I also think Labour is smart enough to know that doing an Epsom in Te Tai Tokerau, or anywhere else, would alienate a lot of members and flaxroots campaign activists you don't want staying home with their wallets shut in an election year.

It'll be interesting to see how many MPs IM get and what effect it'll have. If it costs National being in gov't, they'll have no one else to blame, considering they decided to reject the Law Commission's recommendation to scrap the coat-tails rule.

I also think Labour is smart enough to know that doing an Epsom in Te Tai Tokerau, or anywhere else, would alienate a lot of members and flaxroots campaign activists you don’t want staying home with their wallets shut in an election year.

Exactly. If you really wanted a way to get the "Labour takes Maori for granted" meme into play, that'd be it.

Bonza if true :) (Not so sure she's a terrific 'political operative' but pretty confident MANA would find plenty in common with her and she'd bring experience and - no better way to put it - mana to the IP.)